Thomas J. Stringer, Esq.

Tim Feemster

Managing Principal, Foremost Quality Logistics

West Virginia Direct Financial Incentives 2010

West Virginia's economic development, finance and tax organizations provide a range of incentive programs to initiate new business and commercial investment. Specific programs include the West Virginia Economic Development Authority, West Virginia Infrastructure and Jobs Development Council, West Virginia Capital Company Act, and the West Virginia Film Industry Investment Act.

Area Development Research Desk

Feb/Mar 10

Financial AssistanceDirect Loan Programs:
The West Virginia Economic Development Authority can provide up to 45 percent in financing fixed assets by providing low-interest, direct loans to expanding state businesses and firms locating in West Virginia. Loan term is generally 15 years for real estate intensive projects and five to 10 years for equipment projects. Loan proceeds may be used for the acquisition of land, buildings and equipment. Working capital loans and the refinancing of existing debt are not eligible.

Indirect Loans:
The West Virginia Economic Development Authority provides a loan insurance program through participating commercial banks to assist firms that cannot obtain conventional bank financing. This program insures up to 80 percent of a bank loan for a maximum loan term of four years. Loan proceeds may be used for any business purpose except the refinancing of existing debt.

Industrial Revenue Bonds:
This program provides for customized financing through federal tax-exempt industrial revenue bonds. Of the state's bond allocation, $57,386,700 is reserved for small manufacturing projects, $16,396,200 for qualifying projects in Enterprise Communities and $90,179,100 for exempt facility projects.

West Virginia Infrastructure and Jobs Development Council:
The fund can be used for financial assistance to public utilities, county development authorities and private companies for infrastructure improvements to support economic development projects.

Linked Deposit Loan Program:
The program allows small, for-profit state employers with 50 or fewer employees and gross annual receipts of $5 million or less to apply for a linked deposit loan with an interest rate of one percent above published New York Prime, up to $250,000.

Venture CapitalWest Virginia Capital Company Act:
The West Virginia Economic Development Authority administers a program that provides for debt and equity venture capital investment to small business. A number of firms are qualified in West Virginia to make venture capital investments and their contact information may be found at www.wveda.org.

West Virginia Jobs Investment Trust (JIT) is a public venture capital fund created to develop, promote and expand West Virginia's economy. The program makes investment funds available to eligible businesses, thus stimulating economic growth and providing or retaining jobs within the state.

Business AssistanceCorporate Headquarters Credit:
Companies that relocate their corporate headquarters to West Virginia are eligible for tax credits if 15 new jobs (including relocated employees) are created within the first year. The credit can offset up to 100 percent of the tax liability for business and occupation tax, business franchise tax, corporate net income tax and personal income tax on certain pass-through income, for a period of up to 13 years.

Economic Opportunity Credit:
For qualified companies that create at least 20 new jobs within specified time limits (10 jobs in the case of qualified small business) as a result of their business expansion project, the State's Economic Opportunity Tax Credit can offset up to 80 percent of specified business taxes for a period of up to 13 years. If a qualified company that creates the requisite number of jobs pays an annual median wage higher than the statewide average non-farm payroll wage, then the qualified company can offset up to 100 percent of the specified taxes for up to 13 years.

For qualified businesses creating fewer than 20 new jobs within specified time limits, or for a qualified small business creating fewer than 10 new jobs, a $3,000 credit is allowed per new, full-time job for five years, providing the new job pays at least $32,000 per year and the employee has employer-provided health insurance benefits. The $32,000 figure is adjusted annually for cost-of-living.

"Five-For-Ten" Program:
The program provides property tax valuation for new investment property of manufacturers that make qualified capital improvements of more than $50 million to an existing manufacturing facility having an original investment asset cost base of at least $100 million. Under this program, the new capital addition is valued at five percent of original cost for the first 10 years after it is placed on the property tax rolls.

Manufacturing Investment Credit:
A tax credit is allowed against up to 60 percent of corporate net income tax and business franchise tax based on qualified investment in eligible manufacturing property, with no new job creation required.

Manufacturing Inventory Credit:
Offsets the business franchise tax and corporate net income tax in the amount of property tax paid on raw materials, goods in process and finished goods manufacturing inventory.

Strategic R&D Credit:
The Strategic Research and Development Tax Credit can offset up to 100 percent of corporate net income tax and business franchise tax, based on qualified expenditures for R&D projects.

West Virginia Film Industry Investment Act:
Up to 31 percent of direct production and post-production expenditures can be converted to transferable tax credits to offset state taxes.

High-Tech Manufacturing Credit:
Businesses that manufacture certain computers and peripheral equipment, electronic components or semi-conductors and which create at least 20 new jobs within one year after placement of qualified investment into service, can receive a tax credit to offset 100 percent of the business and occupation tax, business franchise tax, corporate net income tax, and personal income tax on certain pass-through income for 20 consecutive years.

Aircraft Valuation Tax Credit:
Aircraft owned or leased by commercial airlines, charter carriers, private carriers and private companies are valued for property tax purposes at the lower of fair market salvage value or five percent of the original cost of the property.

High-Technology Business Property Valuation Act:
Tangible personal property, including servers, directly used in a high-technology business or in an Internet advertising business is valued for property tax purposes at five percent of the original cost of the property. In addition, sales tax is eliminated from all purchases of pre-written computer software, computers, computer hardware, servers, building materials and tangible personal property.

The Freeport Amendment:
The Freeport Amendment exempts property from the West Virginia ad valorem property tax in two ways:
(1) Manufactured products produced in West Virginia and stored in the state for a short time before moving into interstate commerce are exempt from property tax.
(2) Goods transported into West Virginia from outside of the state, which are held for a short time in a warehouse and then shipped to a destination outside of West Virginia, are exempt from the property tax.

The exemption does not apply to inventories of raw materials or goods in process.

Manufacturing Sales Tax Exemption:
Purchases of materials and equipment purchased for direct use in manufacturing are exempt from the six percent state sales and use tax, including building materials and process equipment purchased for construction of a manufacturing facility.
Research and Development Sales Tax Exemption:
Purchases of tangible personal property and services directly used in research and development are exempt from the consumers' sales tax.

Sales Tax Exemption for Certain E-Commerce Businesses:
Some computer-related sales of tangible personal property and services are exempt from the consumer sales and services tax.

Tourism Development Incentive:
A company that invests in and operates a new or expanding tourism destination project may be eligible to retain some of the consumers' sales and services tax that it collects from its customers over a 10-year period on sales from operation of the tourism attraction or facility.

Tax Increment Financing:
Allows increases in property tax based on the improvement associated with qualified economic development and public improvement projects to assist with their long-term financing.

The Tourism Matching Advertising Partnership Program:
In order to extend advertising resources for the promotion of tourism through partnerships, this program provides reimbursable matching funds for direct advertising. Business applicants and their partners must provide a minimum of 50 percent of the total cost for programs at the $10,000+ level. For programs not exceeding $7,500, business applicants must provide 25 percent of the total cost.

Lodging Exemptions:
For lodging stays in excess of 30 consecutive days per person at the same facility, there is an exemption from the state Consumers Sales and Service Tax (6 percent) and exemption from the Local Hotel/Motel Tax (varies per region).

Recruiting and Training Assistance
WorkForce Development Programs WorkKeys® Career Readiness Certificates:
The nationally recognized WorkKeys® Career Readiness Certificates from WorkForce West Virginia aid in the process of matching qualified job seekers with jobs while assuring businesses that the State of West Virginia has a ready and skilled work force.

Governor's Guaranteed Work Force Program:
This flexible, customized training program offers assistance to eligible companies and businesses by providing funding that directly supports the transfer of knowledge and skills. Companies must create a minimum of 10 net new jobs within a 12-month period.

The Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Program:
This customized training program is available to employers that hire individuals that meet specific program requirements. The program targets job seekers that are either economically disadvantaged or displaced due to job shifting in the region.

West Virginia Advance Program:
This flexible program offers customized job training awards to new and existing businesses. The program offers development and delivery of training services that will support a company's startup and ongoing employee development initiatives through a local Community and Technical College.

Incentive and tax information is provided to Area Development by each state's economic development or commerce agency for information purposes only and is subject to revision at any time by the state government. Please contact the state agency directly for full requirements and offerings.